A RN at St. Joseph's Health Centre (SJHC), who works in the Post Anesthetic Care Unit, works within a changing environment and with an inter-professional team who advocates for and promotes wellness while ensuring the delivery of safe, effective and ethical nursing care. The PACU at SJHC cares for all day surgery and admitted post-operative patients. It is a unit which is comprised of 17 recovery bays which allows the RN to share his/her knowledge and expertise with others and contribute to the advancement of nursing practice excellence. The RN continually enhances his/her practice and competencies through ongoing learning, education, experience and reflective practice.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
The primary role of the RN is to provide holistic, evidence-based, culturally appropriate, patient-centered quality care in accordance with the CNO, ORNAC, NAPAN standards and Unity Health Toronto's mission, vision, values and policies. The RN optimizes the patient's experience and care outcomes by:
- Being accountable for one's decisions and professional practice;
- Establishing a therapeutic relationship with the patient;
- Collaborating with other members of the patient's care team; and,
- Coordinating and communicating patient care activities.
The RN has 4 key areas of responsibility:
Patient Care:
- Acquires information to assess patient care and learning needs
- Develops a plan of care and integrates nursing activities with other inter-professional activities
- Engages in critical inquiry and reflection to select evidence-based interventions
- Organizes nursing care and assigns or changes nursing care activities where appropriate
- Evaluates the effectiveness of the plan of care and adjusts the plan as needed
- Anticipates, recognizes and addresses rapidly changing situations
- Provides health education to patients and their families using effective teaching strategies
- Documents observations, assessments and care provision
- Contributes to discharge and transition planning
- Refers patient to other agencies or services as needed
Collaboration & Coordination
- Serves as the primary resource for organizing and coordinating patient care activities
- Establishes and maintains respectful, collaborative, therapeutic and inter-professional relationships
- Coordinates and communicates patient care activities for a safe and seamless transition and appropriate transfer of accountability
- Participates in hospital committees and other groups
Leadership
- Aligns behavior with Unity Health Toronto's vision, mission and values and Code of Conduct
- Supports the advancement of professional practice
- Utilizes effective judgment in assigning patient care activities
- Engages in self-reflection, performance review and ongoing learning
- Participates in mentoring, teaching and /or coaching students, co-workers and other regulated and unregulated health professionals
- Embraces change that leads to improved nursing practice and better patient outcomes
- Advocates for a safe and healthy work environment
Research
- Participates in or supports research projects
- Supports and participates in evidence based practice implementation and quality improvement initiatives
Qualifications:
- Current registration with the College of Nurses of Ontario.
- Successful completion of Critical Care Certificate required, additional PACU certification preferred.
- Recent PACU experience required; candidates without recent PACU experience may be considered if they have completed the Critical Care Certificate and there are no qualified applicants.
- Current BLS certificate required.
- ACLS and PALS issued by the Heart and Stroke Foundation, or a program recognized by the Heart and Stroke Foundation, required within 6 months of hire.
- Recent cardiac arrhythmia experience required.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Demonstrated critical thinking, problem solving abilities and ability to work independently.
- Demonstrated commitment to on-going education.
- Satisfactory attendance record.
